Riding through the woods as fast as you can shows the inner child you thought was lost forever.BikeStyle
You may have noticed the BIKESTYLE links to the right. I’ve decided to link to a few web sites that promote cycling as part of the everyday lifestyle.
In the winter of 2006, I had the great pleasure of moving to a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It most certainly is not a small town by UP standards, but it is tiny by everyone else’s, even though, between the two cities on either side of the canal, we do have two universities and a hospital. I’m speaking of Houghton and Hancock.
By May of 2006, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who introduced me to the joys of mountain biking. It quickly grew into a strong, healthy habit. Ok, let’s call it what it is: an obsession. I love to bike, plain and simple. I would rather bike than do anything else. That first summer, I bought a full-suspension mountain bike with an MSRP of $1,800 (I'll shed some light on the significance of this in tomorrow's post), some shorts, my very first cycling jerseys, and a cutesy little helmet. I had the whole deal. I look like the typical spandex-clad cyclist to anyone who sees me on the road.
I decided to start commuting by bicycle this year. After two years of competitive cycling integration, I now have two conflicting thoughts that I am currently working through. I’ve forgotten how to ride a bike in plain clothes. How do I pedal without tearing my clothes or getting lube all over them? How do I do it without getting mud splashed up on my butt creating that dreaded brown stripe?
Half the fun of starting something new, like bike commuting, is doing the research in preparation for it. I’ve found some wonderful web sites that are dedicated to urban commuting. One site is about bike culture in Copenhagen. It is spectacularly entertaining, inspiring, and thought-provoking. It has caused me to ponder the following question out of many: what kind of bike do I want? Do I want just a commuter bike – something that is transformed for riding to school and work? I don’t think so. I want bike culture. I love the bikes shown in that blog. Not only are they stylish and built with commuting in mind, but taking a closer look shows that these bikes address every concern a non-spandex wearing cyclist has. They have lights, fenders, chain guards, wicker baskets, rear carriers . . .
How exciting!
Suddenly, I wasn’t looking for a cheap commuter bike. I was exploring the possibilities of how a good commuter bike could change my life!
18 Ways to Know You Have Bicycle Culture is a fun little article are bike commuters. Everyone is disqualified by this list, so take it in stride.
In the winter of 2006, I had the great pleasure of moving to a small town in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It most certainly is not a small town by UP standards, but it is tiny by everyone else’s, even though, between the two cities on either side of the canal, we do have two universities and a hospital. I’m speaking of Houghton and Hancock.
By May of 2006, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who introduced me to the joys of mountain biking. It quickly grew into a strong, healthy habit. Ok, let’s call it what it is: an obsession. I love to bike, plain and simple. I would rather bike than do anything else. That first summer, I bought a full-suspension mountain bike with an MSRP of $1,800 (I'll shed some light on the significance of this in tomorrow's post), some shorts, my very first cycling jerseys, and a cutesy little helmet. I had the whole deal. I look like the typical spandex-clad cyclist to anyone who sees me on the road.
I decided to start commuting by bicycle this year. After two years of competitive cycling integration, I now have two conflicting thoughts that I am currently working through. I’ve forgotten how to ride a bike in plain clothes. How do I pedal without tearing my clothes or getting lube all over them? How do I do it without getting mud splashed up on my butt creating that dreaded brown stripe?
Half the fun of starting something new, like bike commuting, is doing the research in preparation for it. I’ve found some wonderful web sites that are dedicated to urban commuting. One site is about bike culture in Copenhagen. It is spectacularly entertaining, inspiring, and thought-provoking. It has caused me to ponder the following question out of many: what kind of bike do I want? Do I want just a commuter bike – something that is transformed for riding to school and work? I don’t think so. I want bike culture. I love the bikes shown in that blog. Not only are they stylish and built with commuting in mind, but taking a closer look shows that these bikes address every concern a non-spandex wearing cyclist has. They have lights, fenders, chain guards, wicker baskets, rear carriers . . .
How exciting!
Suddenly, I wasn’t looking for a cheap commuter bike. I was exploring the possibilities of how a good commuter bike could change my life!
18 Ways to Know You Have Bicycle Culture is a fun little article are bike commuters. Everyone is disqualified by this list, so take it in stride.
posted by Di at
9:09 AM
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